LAHORE, Sept 9: Unlike the last decade or so, Shamroz will be celebrating this Eid in 'Pardes', away from home.

Shamroz came to Lahore in 2000 with his ailing father. Within a week or so, he became a labourer to meet the treatment and living expenses here. Later, with the help of an acquaintance, he bought a cart to sell roasted corn on Lahore roads. His father could not survive, but Shamroz decided to live here and visit his family twice a year on Eids along with gifts for five younger siblings back home.

“Had there been no floods, I would have been among the people leaving for hometowns to celebrate Eid with their near and dear ones. My mother and siblings are with a distant relative in Peshawar and I am collecting money to bring them here,” says the vendor who has been selling dates during Ramazan for the last five years or so near the Badami Bagh bus stand.

Floods levelled all 50 or so houses of Shamroz land and destroyed the ready-to-harvest corn crops. “Cruel water current didn't spare our goats even,” said a tearful Shamroz.

Usually, more than 30 per cent of the population leaves the Punjab capital on Eidul Fitr and Eidul Azha to celebrate the religious festivals with their relatives. The exit process started early this week, but most working people were leaving Lahore on Thursday evening because the four-day Eid holidays would start from Friday (toady).

Extra rush was seen at the General Bus Stand in Badami Bagh and bus terminals on Bund Road with people making efforts to get a seat for their destinations. Taking advantage of the situation, transport owners have resorted to overcharging and overloading, especially on side routes.

The situation was no different at the Lahore Railway Station though only one special train has been run this year to facilitate the people leaving Lahore for Peshawar through Rawalpindi.

The situation on railways branch lines was worse, as passengers were seen travelling in luggage compartments and hanging with windows and doors of the train coaches.